Synthesis and characterization of wafer-like BiFeO3 with efficient catalytic activity

Wafer-like paramagnetic BiFeO3 were successfully fabricated via hydrothermal route without any dispersant or mineralizer. The obtained samples exhibited a rhombohedral single-phase and a narrow band gap of 2.05 eV. Its catalytic activity was investigated and it was found that the degradation efficiency of 10 mg L−1 Rhodamine B was above 90.5% over 1.0 g L−1 BiFeO3 within 10 mmol L−1 H2O2 at pH 5.7 and temperature 25 °C in 3 h under the visible-light irradiation. It was revealed that BiFeO3 possessed excellent reusability. The modified electrode of synthesized BiFeO3–chitosan–glassy carbon electrode could dramatically enhance the peak current in 1 mM K3[Fe(CN)6]/K4[Fe(CN)6] solution, suggesting its potential application in electrochemical analysis.

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► Wafer-like BiFeO3 were successfully fabricated without any dispersant or mineralizer.
► The obtained samples exhibited paramagnetic behavior and narrow band gap of 2.05 eV
► The synthesized BiFeO3 had an efficient visible-light photocatalytic activity.
► The modified electrode of BFO–CS–GCE could dramatically enhance the peak current.